Dings in front shell from road debris

06-13-2011, 07:55 PM

Hello,
Have any you found a solution to the small dents/dings that you get when traveling (granted slowly) over gravel/dirt roads? We have several and would like to protect the front shell.
We have considered having someone mount some 2 x 2 aluminum diamond plate on the sides of the front window, but would like to hear about alternatives.
The TV does have mud flaps that come down to just about 2 inches from the road when the TM is hitched.

Thanks!

06-14-2011, 07:31 AM

I was thinking of something like this (less weight and easily replaceable).

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...90&R=202090190

http://www.softmetalfilm.com/films.html

Koz

06-14-2011, 12:06 PM

Hi Koz,
Those look like great options. We were quoted about $450 for diamond plate to be installed.... ouch! So, thanks for the insight. We will keep on looking. Have you done anything like this?

06-17-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by namklg

Hi Koz,
Those look like great options. We were quoted about $450 for diamond plate to be installed.... ouch! So, thanks for the insight. We will keep on looking. Have you done anything like this?

Not yet. When I see the first ding I will be looking to do something. Right now I'm working on the exterior wiring!

Koz

**Bill** · 06-17-2011, 01:20 PM

Just thinking out loud here. At Home Depot, etc, you can buy heavy clear vinyl about 3 feet wide. It comes on a roll, and you buy the length you need. I think it is used for stair runner, or to protect high traffic areas on floors. Stuff like that.

Buy an appropriate length and cut it to the size you need. Maybe 2 ft by 4 ft? At the same time, buy a grommet kit. Put several grommets around the perimeter of each piece, and use stainless steel screws and washers to screw each piece to the front of the TM in the impact area. Be sure to caulk the screw holes, of course.

Because it is clear, it is not too ugly. Flexible so it conforms to the needed shape. Replaceable as needed. Tough. And cheap for the function.

Just a thought.

Bill

**ShrimpBurrito** · 06-17-2011, 02:40 PM

Working from Bill's approach, and also thinking out loud, you could even make that vinyl removable. Instead of using screws to attach it, put some oval grommets in it and attach it to the front of the TM with something like a turn snaps....like these:

http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html?cat201.htm

...in combination with some batons to prevent sagging. That may be too much effort though for what you are trying to accomplish.

Dave

06-18-2011, 09:53 AM

When an class "A" tows a car I think they have some black material pulled tight across a frame mounted to the front of the car and sometimes another piece in the same manor placed under the tow dolly. I never paid too much to how but that it was mounted in a way as to protect the towed vechicle.

Maybe some mesh type fabric sewed on to cords that attach to the TM and TV under the frame of the TM to the bumper of TV while towing???

Bob

**mjlaupp** · 06-18-2011, 08:10 PM

A Hitch mount splash/rock guard should solve the problem without modifying the TM:
http://tweetys.com/hitchmountsplashstop.aspx

06-21-2011, 09:54 AM

We have a hitch mounted rock/splash guard. Ed at TM is looking into it. We have no idea of what caused these. They are in an almost perfect circular shape on both sides of the front window.

**Bill** · 06-21-2011, 10:06 AM

Are you sure it is road debris? "Perfectly circular dings" sounds more like hail damage. And of course the aluminum skin of the TM would be damaged by very small hailstones that wouldn't damage the steel and plastic on the front of the tow vehicle.

How is the damage distributed on the TM front skin? I would expect the damage caused by road debris to be concentrated more down low than up high. And I would expect hail damage to be higher.

Bill